tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338 2009-11-19T20:17:04Z Your source of news and gossip from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Potomac Movable Type 3.36 tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.222076 2009-11-19T20:05:56Z 2009-11-19T20:17:04Z

You may have heard already: Gov. Martin O’Malley has been named a “Public Official of the Year” by Governing magazine. It’s a national magazine with a circulation roughly equal to the population of Columbia, Md., but the publication's praise for...

Laura Smitherman You may have heard already: Gov. Martin O’Malley has been named a “Public Official of the Year” by Governing magazine. It’s a national magazine with a circulation roughly equal to the population of Columbia, Md., but the publication's praise for the governor has generated quite a buzz. Not all of it as flattering. The governor picks up the award tonight at dinner to be held at the Willard InterContinental hotel in Washington, but the news has been out there for a while. O’Malley’s campaign manager seized on the pronouncement earlier this month and sent a letter to potential donors. He wrote: “We've got some exciting news that I wanted to share with you: Gov. O'Malley has been named ‘2009 Governor of the Year’ by Governing magazine. ... I hope you're as proud as I am that Gov. O'Malley has, with your support, made Maryland a model of smart, 21st-century governing tactics.” Not so fast, the media chided. First The Washington Post noted in a blog posting that he was actually the only governor out of eight public officials who were honored, not exactly “Governor of the Year.” The Post asked Governing Editor Alan Ehrenhalt about O’Malley’s claim to a more lofty sounding award. "We don't use that title," Ehrenhalt said. “I suppose by extrapolation ... it's functionally true.” Not surprisingly, the conservative blog Red Maryland soon weighed in, accusing O’Malley of “fudging the truth.” The blogger, clearly not a fan of the governor’s, went on to write: “But then again we already know O’Malley likes to fudge things, then—naturally—blame others for his problems.” Which brings us to today, when O’Malley’s press office put out a notice about the honor. here. This is what the magazine had to say about the governor/public official: "Everyone knows Martin O'Malley is a numbers guy. The data-driven approach to policy and administration that he created as mayor of Baltimore, known as "CitiStat," has been copied by cities across the country. Now, as governor of Maryland, O'Malley is showing that states, too, can improve performance by measuring what they do and relentlessly monitoring their progress."]]> tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.222041 2009-11-19T18:38:14Z 2009-11-19T19:12:53Z

Former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich raised $18 million for his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2006. But if he seeks a rematch next year against incumbent Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, he expects to collect considerably less. Ehrlich put a $10...

Paul West Former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich raised $18 million for his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2006. But if he seeks a rematch next year against incumbent Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, he expects to collect considerably less. Ehrlich put a $10 million to $12 million price tag on it during an interview in his downtown Baltimore office today (that figure isn't exactly breaking news--it's been attributed previously to anonymous Republican sources, though not necessarily to Ehrlich himself). What may be more telling, though, is that Ehrlich is saying money wouldn't be a problem if he ran. Recent commentary from Republican activists and political analysts about a 2010 Ehrlich campaign has focused on money and the imperative for Ehrlich to start raising it now. Some of those pushing him to get in have pointed to the time-consuming demands of fund-raising as a big reason for action. Ehrlich himself, according to various reports, had been saying that whether he could raise enough money was one of the main conditions that would have to be met before he decided to run. But the prospective candidate insisted today that he doesn't see a problem building a $10 million to $12 million pot (obviously, it's tougher to attract donations when you aren't a sitting governor, which is why O'Malley is very likely to wind up as the big spender next year). Ehrlich also says that $10 million to $12 million would be enough. Ehrlich points out that 2010 would be a "truncated campaign." There's a limit, he said, to how much he could effectively spend in a contest that took less than one year from start to finish. Chatting in his spectacular 13th-floor corner office that overlooks the baseball diamond at Oriole Park, the 51-year-old ex-governor (he turns 52 the day before Thanksgiving) offered a dispassionate assessment of the option he faces. He's figured out who his likely swing-vote targets will be (white women and, to a lesser extent, African-American men). And it's clear, from public and private polls, that O'Malley is potentially vulnerable. Over the past two weeks, since he became more public about his 2010 deliberations, Ehrlich says interest in his activities has "quadrupled," from grassroots Republicans and the news media. And Ehrlich is continuing to do many of the things that a candidate would do. He's popping up around the state at political events (he headlined a local Republican fund-raising dinner in Aberdeen on Monday) and keeping his national profile alive (he's got a Fox News shot tomorrow on Sean Hannity's show in New York). In the end, though, it all boils down to numbers. A recent statewide poll showed him 7 percentage points back of O'Malley, the same spread as the 2006 general election. Then there are the external numbers: as the economy continues to sputter, incumbents like O'Malley look increasingly vulnerable, even in a deep blue state where Democratic candidates start out with a huge advantage. Ehrlich says his decision will ultimately turn on the answer to this question: "Do enough people want me to be governor again?" In other words: Can he win? It's clear that Ehrlich would relish the opportunity to avenge his 2006 defeat. Losing again would only cost him his pride this time, instead of his job. But he's a hard-headed pragmatist, not a romantic fool, with little appetite for hopeless causes. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221898 2009-11-18T19:51:45Z 2009-11-18T20:13:25Z

As state revenues have taken a nose dive along with the economy, Gov. Martin O'Malley has been forced repeatedly to find ways to keep the state operating budget in balance. He brought more than $360 million in budget measures on...

Laura Smitherman here. For a list of actions taken, click here. For the administration's presentation, click here. ]]> tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221395 2009-11-14T19:04:18Z 2009-11-14T21:02:10Z

Maryland’s Republican Party, buoyed by GOP victories in nearby states, elected on Saturday a spunky, 73-year-old activist and politician as the new chairwoman who pledged to reunite the fractious organization and capitalize on what many see as a shifting national...

Laura Smitherman Maryland’s Republican Party, buoyed by GOP victories in nearby states, elected on Saturday a spunky, 73-year-old activist and politician as the new chairwoman who pledged to reunite the fractious organization and capitalize on what many see as a shifting national tide. Convention delegates voted overwhelmingly to install Audrey E. Scott, whose long political resume includes stints as mayor of Bowie, Prince George’s County Councilwoman, and Cabinet secretary under former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. More than 200 delegates crowded a ballroom at the Comfort Inn Conference Center in Bowie, as several speakers predicted a Republican resurgence in 2010. “It’s lonely being from the bluest of the blue states, and that needs to stop in 2010. We are committed to that,” said Ehrlich, who has not decided yet whether he plans to challenge Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat he lost to in 2006. “The stakes are big time in 2010.” The excitement and accord at the convention marked a stark contrast to months of infighting that culminated with the resignation of Chairman James Pelura, who was criticized by state lawmakers as the party suffered financially. Party leaders now say they are united by the chance to make gains next year, citing voter unease about the economy and doubts about Democrats. “The Maryland Republican Party is not on life support, and it is not second class,” Scott said. “This is not a time for finger-pointing, dissension or disagreement.” Many Republicans at the convention pointed to New Jersey and Virginia where GOP candidates prevailed in recent gubernatorial elections. They contend that voters are ready to reject the kind of change that President Barack Obama promised when he swept into office on a Democratic wave last year. But the GOP must contend with some disadvantages in Maryland. Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one in voter registration, and the Democratic State Central Committee reported nearly $600,000 in cash on hand in January, the latest report. In contrast, the Republican State Central Committee reported to the convention that it had $5,613 in a checking account as of Friday, a $20,000 line of credit and tens of thousands of dollars in debt. The Republican committee also must repay $75,000 to former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele’s state account. Elections officials found a transfer from Steele, now the national GOP chairman, to be improper. The only other candidate for party chair was Daniel “the Whig Man” Vovak, who often wears a white wig, though not on Saturday. Only a handful of delegates voted for Vovak, and most county delegations voted unanimously for Scott. In what some called another sign that the party has unified, the convention voted overwhelmingly to change the party’s system for apportioning delegate votes among the counties, an issue that has been controversial for years. The delegates adopted a compromise that doled out a set number of votes to each county plus votes based on how many voters in that county turned out for presidential nominee John McCain last year. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221322 2009-11-13T20:45:13Z 2009-11-13T20:50:32Z

At least one prominent Washington politician, President Barack Obama, has carefully kept his distance this year from Sheila Dixon, the indicted mayor of Baltimore. That hasn't been the case with many other public figures, including Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who...

Paul West "I am not scheduled to testify in this case," said Congressman Cummings. And with that, his office added (not for the first time): "This will be the extent of Cummings' statement during the trial." So, what is it? Is he a potential witness or not? Was his name on the list just for show? Did Cummings even know that he was included (others on the list have said they didn't know their names would be on it)? After the news media reported, and Cummings confirmed, that he was a potential witness, did he inform the lawyers that he would not testify? Did the lawyers decide, after all their planning for the trial, that he wouldn't be a witness, only a day or two after telling the court he might be? Cummings is an attorney, a graduate of the University of Maryland law school, so perhaps his inscrutable statements should be scrutinized with a legalistic eye. He calls himself "a potential witness." He says he "will answer any questions." But he is "not scheduled to testify." Schedules can change. He is not scheduled now. But he could be in the future. Potential witnesses can turn into actual witnesses. Or not. In the midst of such confusion and mystery, perhaps one could take a more cynical view: That for reasons of political prudence, Cummings doesn't care to get any closer than necessary to Dixon right now. No one can predict with absolute certainty what will come out during the trial, or how it will end or, for that matter, how a scheduled second mayor trial will turn out. Stay tuned. Perhaps Cummings will have more to say before the mayor's trial is over. Or not. ]]> tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221167 2009-11-12T19:45:12Z 2009-11-12T21:58:58Z

For the second day in a row, Maryland Democrats are insisting they have nothing to worry about in next year’s elections. The latest comes from Democratic Party Chair Susan Turnbull, who is circulating a letter to former Republican Gov. Robert...

Laura Smitherman For the second day in a row, Maryland Democrats are insisting they have nothing to worry about in next year’s elections. The latest comes from Democratic Party Chair Susan Turnbull, who is circulating a letter to former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich. (See yesterday's take from O'Malley campaign manager Tom Russell on this blog.) The political establishment has been waiting for Ehrlich’s decision on whether he’ll challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, and Turnbull has some ideas for what he should consider as he holds focus groups and conducts polls to gauge his chances. She suggests several points that pollsters should ask residents about his record on the state budget and taxes. Oh, and she suggests that he remind voters that he supported slot-machine gambling while in office but then opposed the voter referendum last year that expanded gambling in the state. The sarcasm drips. She signs off with "warm regards." Of course, Republicans have taken O’Malley’s budget policies to task, pointing to repeated writedowns in tax revenue that they contend he failed proactively address. They also have criticized his reliance on federal stimulus dollars, pointing to further budgetary trouble in the years ahead when those dollars run out. And Ehrlich argued that the slots program crafted by the Democrats was “bad policy” and would fuel unrestrained government spending. He also objected to amending the state constitution to allow slots. UPDATE: Henry Fawell, a spokesman for Ehrlich, responded to our request for a response with an e-mailed statement. “They are giving the meaning to the term ‘paranoid,’” Fawell wrote. “I would encourage them to take the advice Governor O’Malley’s campaign manager gave to fundraisers: Take a deep breath.” To be sure, the political pundits won’t know for another year whether Turnbull doth protest too much. To read her letter, click below. November 12, 2009 Dear Former Governor Ehrlich, Running for governor is an intensely personal decision for you and your family, and no one – Republicans or Democrats – should fault you for taking the time to consider your prospects in 2010. As you conduct – in your own words – your “objective analysis,” “hold focus groups” and “look at cross-tabs,” I wanted to make sure that you and your pollster ask the right questions on which to base your decision. For instance, do voters know that: 1. You increased spending by almost 22% in your last two years in office - exceeding the Spending Affordability guidelines? 2. You raised more than $3 billion in hidden taxes, tolls and fees on Maryland families? 3. You raised taxes on income from manufacturing? 4. You raised state property taxes 57%? 5. You raised the corporate filing fees by $188 million during your first three years in office? These are very important questions that you should ask in your poll – especially since spending levels in the State of Maryland are lower today than they were during your last year in office. No doubt voters will be very interested in your spending record given the state of the national economy. Voters and opinion leaders are already aware that you were the only incumbent governor in the country to lose re-election in November. Sure it was a bad year for Republicans after six years of George Bush, but you were the only incumbent governor of either party to lose re-election. So, as you prepare your poll and focus groups, I recommend you ask whether you would, yet again: • Cut funding for K-12 public education, since you failed to fully-fund Thornton while you were in office. • Roll-back the progress we have made to make college more affordable by increasing college tuition by over 40% again, as you did during your term in office. • Start raiding Program Open Space dollars instead of making difficult decisions to balance the budget. • Block any increase in the minimum wage for hard working Marylanders. Warm Regards, Susan W. Turnbull Chair, Maryland State Democratic Party P.S. Please also be sure that you ask voters about your flip flop on slots, which you supported for all four years of your Administration as the centerpiece of your budget program, only to oppose in last year’s referendum, which passed with 59% of support from Maryland’s voters. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221014 2009-11-11T22:50:13Z 2009-11-12T00:09:40Z

The political season is blooming early in Baltimore County as another candidate has entered the race for the Maryland Senate seat being vacated by Republican Andrew P. Harris. Alfred W. Redmer Jr., the former Republican state delegate and insurance...

Laura Smitherman The political season is blooming early in Baltimore County as another candidate has entered the race for the Maryland Senate seat being vacated by Republican Andrew P. Harris. Alfred W. Redmer Jr., the former Republican state delegate and insurance commissioner, is holding a campaign kickoff rally tonight at the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Co. to announce his candidacy. While the election is one year away, there has been a lot of buzz in Baltimore County with the open seat left by Harris, who plans to run for Congress a second time. Republican Del. J.B. Jennings has already filed papers to become a candidate. And Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a Democrat, is considering entering the race. Smith recently put his longtime Reisterstown home on the market to move to Cockeysville and establish residency in the 7th District that includes sections of Baltimore and Harford counties. In an interview, Redmer said he is running in response to voter dissatisfaction with the economy and the “political monopoly” in Maryland, a heavily Democratic state. The insurance company executive also touted his background in health care, an issue that politicians on the state and national level are tackling. “Like others throughout my district, I have been growing in my frustration with the direction of the state and the country,” Redmer said, adding that many policymakers don’t understand “the dynamics between business and government.” ]]> Laura Smitherman or Julie Bykowicz.]]> tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.221019 2009-11-11T20:30:28Z 2009-11-11T23:53:31Z

Do Republican victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races portend trouble for Gov. Martin O’Malley? Nah, that’s just Republican spin, campaign manager Tom Russell wrote in a memo dated today to fiance committee members. “While last week's election...

Laura Smitherman Do Republican victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races portend trouble for Gov. Martin O’Malley? Nah, that’s just Republican spin, campaign manager Tom Russell wrote in a memo dated today to fiance committee members. “While last week's election returns were discouraging nationally, we at the O'Malley-Brown campaign urge our Maryland supporters to take a deep breath before accepting the predictable and inaccurate national GOP spin,” Russell wrote in his opening salvo. What follows are talking points that voters are sure to hear a lot about before the November 2010 election. Russell not only touts the governor’s accomplishments but contends the state’s political landscape is strongly in favor of O’Malley over any Republican, whether it’s former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. or any of the other possible contenders. He included in that group Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele, the former lieutenant governor under Ehrlich, though there has not been much talk of that possibility lately. Russell also gives his own take on New Jersey exit polls. He concludes that voters in New Jersey and Virginia “were expressing frustration with the pace of change and NOT rejecting President Obama or Democrats.” Read for yourself by clicking below. To: O'Malley/Brown Finance Committee Members From: Tom Russell, O'Malley-Brown Campaign Date: November 11, 2009 Re: 2009 Election Results and State of 2010 Race While last week's election returns were discouraging nationally, we at the O'Malley-Brown campaign urge our Maryland supporters to take a deep breath before accepting the predictable and inaccurate national GOP spin. When you look at the record and the numbers, I think you'll see how Maryland's political landscape provides Governor O'Malley with a superior advantage over any potential opponent in 2010. There has been plenty of speculation in recent days about who our opponent might be. After a long process of soul searching, "cross tab" analysis and focus groups, will it be former Governor Ehrlich? Will it be Michael Steele, Larry Hogan, Delegate Pat McDonough or some other name we haven't heard yet? Frankly, it doesn't matter who the Republicans settle on. We'll be prepared for them, and we will beat them. We will accomplish this despite the global economic crisis, and despite the insecurity many are feeling today, because Governor O'Malley has a record of making the tough decisions, cutting government spending while still making real progress for Maryland. Specifically - 1. Despite Republican rhetoric, the state's general fund budget is SMALLER today, after three years of the O'Malley/Brown administration, than it was under the Ehrlich/Steele administration. No amount of Republican spin can change that fact. (Source: Department of Legislative Services) 2. Maryland's public schools are the best in the nation, according to Education Week Magazine. This does not happen by accident, but through leadership that puts a priority on education to prepare our children and our state for the future. 3. College tuition costs at state universities have been frozen throughout the O'Malley/Brown administration's term. That took Maryland from one of the most expensive states for college education four years ago, to one of the more affordable for middle class families. (Source: Capitol News Service, 11/5, 2009) 4. Crime is down. (Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report) 5. Under Governor O'Malley's leadership, Maryland has strengthened protections of the Chesapeake Bay in a program that is hailed as a national model. (Source: thebaynet.com, 10/24, 2009) 6. Based on these very measurable accomplishments, among many others, Martin O'Malley was named Governor of the Year for 2009 by the non-partisan Governing Magazine. Now, let's address the issue of last week... the elections in New Jersey and Virginia. There are many important differences between Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland, all indicating that Maryland 2010 will have dramatically different results than the 2009 elections in Virginia and New Jersey. First, Maryland is a more reliably Democratic state. In 2008, Barack Obama carried Maryland 62%-37%, where he carried New Jersey 57%-42%, and Virginia 53%-46%. Second, Maryland has gotten MORE Democratic since November 2006. Helped in large measure by the 2008 Obama campaign, three-quarters (77%) of the new voters in Maryland are registered Democrats, compared to just 7% who registered as Republicans. Third, a look at the New Jersey exit poll results suggests that it will be extremely difficult for Republicans to win in Maryland, even if you assume the worst environment for Democrats in years. (a) For a "worst case" scenario, assume that the Corzine-Christie results by party will be the results in Maryland in 2010. According to the Edison Research exit poll, Corzine won Democrats by 86%-8%; Christie won Republicans by 91%-6% and Independents by 60%-30%. (b) The "worst case" partisan environment for Democrats in Maryland occurred in 2000, where the exit polls had Democrats at 48%, Republicans at 30%. (By comparison, in 2008, the exit polls for Maryland showed 51% Democrats, 28% Republicans) (c) IF - for the sake of argument and speculation -- we assume that Governor O'Malley gets the SAME vote by party as Governor Corzine, and we assume a "worst case" electorate of 48% Democrat and 30% Republican, that STILL results in a solid O'Malley victory of 51% to 43%. We are not underestimating the voter dissatisfaction that heavily influenced last week's elections or the justified desire of voters that policymakers focus on improving the economy and creating jobs (NOTE: Last week, Governor O'Malley unveiled a 10-point plan to strengthen small businesses). But we do believe, despite national Republican spin, that voters in New Jersey and Virginia were expressing frustration with the pace of change and NOT rejecting President Obama or Democrats (For example, the New Jersey exit poll showed the President with a healthy 57% approval rating). The record of progress achieved by the O'Malley/Brown Administration in difficult times is documented by specific, fact-driven indicators, all of which underscore that Governor O'Malley is setting the right priorities and leading Maryland in the right direction. So, if it is not abundantly clear already, let's say it one more time to our friends, interested parties and, yes, even the political opposition: We will NEVER take anything for granted. We will ALWAYS be responsive to the needs of Maryland citizens during this difficult economic time. We will ALWAYS act aggressively to correct false "spin" and other attacks on Maryland's progress. And we will CONTINUE to make tough decisions, laying the groundwork for continued progress and an even better future under Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown's leadership. For more information on the campaign, please visit www.martinomalley.com. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220855 2009-11-10T23:48:41Z 2009-11-11T18:25:38Z

Simone Ward, newly hired campaign manager for Barbara Mikulski's 2010 re-election campaign, is on the program at tonight's Central Baltimore County Democratic Club meeting in Towson. Ward, one of the first African-American women to run a major statewide campaign in...

Paul West Simone Ward, newly hired campaign manager for Barbara Mikulski's 2010 re-election campaign, is on the program at tonight's Central Baltimore County Democratic Club meeting in Towson. Ward, one of the first African-American women to run a major statewide campaign in Maryland, was added to the Mikulski campaign payroll last month. She joined the senator's campaign from EMILY's List, a Democratic feminist organization that funds Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights. Before that, Ward was deputy director of a Democratic National Committee outreach arm to black, women, Hispanic and Asian-American voters, under then-chairman Howard Dean. She also has been executive director of Young Democrats of America and run a group called Democratic GAIN, which helped the party's campaign workers find job between elections. Ward was reared in the Kansas City, Mo., area, where her family has ties to Emanuel Cleaver, the city's first African-American mayor and currently a member of Congress. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University and has been working to get a Master's degree at American University in Washington, according to her biography on the EMILY's List Web site. She has no statewide campaign management experience listed on the biography, which notes that she worked in the White House presidential personnel office during Bill Clinton's presidency. Back in 2005, when she was employed at the DNC, she lived in northern Virginia. Presumably, as Mikulski's campaign chief, she's made the move to the Free State and is "a real Marylander, not just a ``ZIP Code'' Marylander, meaning living in Maryland as a matter of convenience." tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220728 2009-11-10T16:41:03Z 2009-11-10T17:20:00Z

Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski proclaimed it a "great day" for the world and a "very special day" for herself, not necessarily in that order. Either way, it looked like good news for Democrats, which is something of a turnabout...

Paul West Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski proclaimed it a "great day" for the world and a "very special day" for herself, not necessarily in that order. Either way, it looked like good news for Democrats, which is something of a turnabout after last week's elections, which gave Republicans something to cheer about for the first time in a long while. Mikulski recalled how, exactly 20 years ago, the world watched the Berlin Wall come down, symbolically ending the Cold War. "I was filled with excitement on that wonderful day," she said, "because the roots of my own heritage lie in Poland," a former East Bloc nation. In remarks on the Senate floor, the state's senior Democrat tossed a bouquet to that old cold warrior, Ronald Reagan, whose ticket-splitting blue-collar supporters in Maryland have been Mikulski voters, too. The senator also announced that on the anniversary of the day that the wall fell, she herself had risen--in this case, from her wheelchair, casting aside a wheeled walker and a protective "Space Boot," to stand on her own two feet for the first time in months. "This is a big day for me," she declared, her words beamed live to the entire country, like all official proceedings in the Senate chamber, via C-SPAN television. "Today is the first day in over 124 days since my accident coming out of Catholic Mass where I broke my ankle. This is the first day that I can actually come to the floor of the Senate and stand up for someone in whom I truly believe" -- in this case, federal District Judge Andre Davis of Baltimore, who was being promoted to the Appeals court. "I come with no space boot," said the 74-year-old senator, after casting aside the cumbersome footwear that cushioned her healing bones. "I come with no props to hold me up. It is a very big day. So I am very excited about the fact that I am able to do this." She still needs a walker and a cane to get around, but being able to stand unaided is progress (and an occupational boost for a senator, who are expected to rise to her feet when addressing the chamber). Mikulski's "point of personal privilege," as senators call it when they take time during official debate on the Senate floor to talk about whatever they care to talk about, is also positive news for her fellow Maryland Democrats. But it's one more thing that Maryland's Republican Party doesn't need heading into the 2010 elections. As political scientist Tom Schaller has pointed out, Mikulski's presence on the ticket as a re-election candidate will help lure more Democratic voters to the polls next fall. She remains the most popular Maryland politician, a recent statewide opinion survey confirmed. That will help other Democratic candidates, in statewide and legislative contests, by boosting Democratic turnout. And that will make things tougher for former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich, who is considering whether to make a run at unseating Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley in what is still a heavily Democratic state. Mikulski, facing, at the moment, what seems to be very modest Republican opposition, is apparently taking little for granted. She's continuing to stockpile campaign money. Last weekend she held another 2010 fundraising event, this time in Baltimore. And she's been working hard to persuade state voters that's she still on the job, despite having missed long stretches since July while she underwent major surgery and prolonged rehabilitation. She's scheduled to visit a volunteer fire house in Kensington on Thursday, to be applauded for helping produce a $600,000 federal grant for a new hook-and-ladder truck. On Monday, she'll cut a ribbon at a Life Sciences Training Center at the Baltimore City Community College/University of Maryland, Baltimore BioPark in West Baltimore. Twice in past week, she's been quick off the mark twice, in the process nabbing headlines in the top circulating newspapers in the state -- The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. She did it in time-honored political fashion-- by demanding official action from the federal government in response to separate investigative stories in local papers. Mikulski asked Attorney General Eric Holder to help the family of a Baltimore fire cadet killed in a training exercise after The Sun published an expose about the Department of Justice's refusal to pay death benefits. She requested that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood investigate possible safety defects in the capital's Metro subway system after the Post published a report. That's politics at the most elemental level: basic constituent service. It's also the sort of thing that gives a diligent incumbent yet another built-in advantage at re-election time. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220350 2009-11-06T16:21:32Z 2009-11-06T16:29:19Z

Frank Kratovil made it official today: he'll vote against the Democratic health care plan in the House this weekend. The freshman Democrat from the Eastern Shore, facing one of the toughest re-election fights in the country next year, released a...

Paul West Frank Kratovil made it official today: he'll vote against the Democratic health care plan in the House this weekend. The freshman Democrat from the Eastern Shore, facing one of the toughest re-election fights in the country next year, released a statement declaring his opposition to the measure. His stance could complicate efforts by Democratic leaders to secure approval of the legislation this weekend. “After months of thoroughly reviewing legislative proposals and speaking with constituents and stakeholders, I am not satisfied that this bill before us is a sustainable solution,” Kratovil said in a release from his office this morning. “While I applaud the efforts to improve this bill, I still am concerned that this bill does not do enough to bend the long-term cost curve and that it lacks adequate provisions to reduce the deficit and protect small businesses.” Kratovil left open the possibility of supporting a future version of health care legislation. He stated that he would “continue to work with my colleagues to pursue a better bill as this process continues.” If both the House and Senate approve health care overhaul plans, a final version of the legislation would have to be crafted and submitted to both chambers for a vote. That merged plan could be more palatable to moderates. Kratovil, who represents the Eastern Shore and portions of Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties, is close to House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer of southern Maryland. Kratovil had previously indicated his opposition to the House legislation, while leaving open the possibility that he might support it. The former Queen Anne’s County prosecutor is a member of the House Blue Dog coalition, a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats that has been critical of the cost of their party’s health care proposal. He had been under pressure, from conservatives in his district and media ads by opponents of the Democratic health care plan, to vote against it. Because House Republicans have remained united in their opposition to the Democratic health care proposal, House leaders will need to persuade at least a dozen Blue Dogs to support the plan. With a total of 258 Democrats in the House, and 218 votes needed to approve the measure, there can be no more than 40 defections by Democrats or the plan as currently written will fail. In recent days, several House Democrats who represent Republican districts have come out against the measure. Kratovil, whose district backed Republican John McCain by a wide margin in 2008, fits that profile. By announcing their opposition in advance of Saturday’s floor debate, these Democrats spare themselves from being pressured by House leaders to support the measure as a matter of party loyalty. Republicans are waging an aggressive campaign to warn Democrats from conservative districts that a vote in favor of the House health care plan, strongly supported by President Barack Obama and—just this week—groups such as AARP and the American Medical Association, could produce a voter backlash in 2010 that will end their careers in Congress. “We need health care reform that reduces long-term health care spending and expands coverage, but we must find a fiscally sustainable approach to accomplish these goals. After months of thoroughly reviewing legislative proposals and speaking with constituents and stakeholders, I am not satisfied that this bill before us is a sustainable solution. While I applaud the efforts to improve this bill, I still am concerned that this bill does not do enough to bend the long-term cost curve and that it lacks adequate provisions to reduce the deficit and protect small businesses. While I will continue to work with my colleagues to pursue a better bill as this process continues, I do not support HR 3962 and will vote against it when it comes to the floor this weekend.”]]> tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220325 2009-11-06T15:38:37Z 2009-11-06T15:40:53Z

It's been nine years since federal Judge Andre Davis of Baltimore was first nominated to fill the "Maryland seat" on the federal Court of Appeals. It's been seven months since President Barack Obama re-nominated Davis for the same position--which has...

Paul West It's been nine years since federal Judge Andre Davis of Baltimore was first nominated to fill the "Maryland seat" on the federal Court of Appeals. It's been seven months since President Barack Obama re-nominated Davis for the same position--which has remained vacant, thanks to political stalemate in Washington, since the death of Judge Francis D. Murnaghan Jr. in August, 2000. And it's been more than five months since the Senate Judiciary Committee, on a bipartisan vote, cleared Davis for confirmation by the full Senate. Once again, it was politics--delaying tactics by Senate Republicans, who are waging a relatively unnoticed, but largely successful, blocking campaign against Obama nominees--that forced Davis to wait some more. In just a few days, however, the Baltimore native--having spent his 50s waiting for the promotion to come through--should finally be able to move up. Senate debate on Davis' nomination is scheduled to begin late Monday afternoon, with a confirmation vote expected the same day. The exact timing could still slip--we're talking about the Senate here--but not the result: his confirmation is a foregone conclusion, once senators finally get to vote. That will put Davis, now 60, on the bench of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has a reputation as the most conservative of the nation's appellate courts--the highest level other than the Supreme Court. Now that Obama nominees are about to start joining the bench in Richmond, that court will be moving to the left. There are five vacancies on the 15-judge panel, which hears appeals from cases in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. Just this week, Obama nominated two North Carolina judges to the 4th Circuit. One was, like Davis, a Bill Clinton nominee who was blocked by Republicans (in this case, North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms) at the end of Clinton's presidency. The other would be the first Hispanic to sit on the 4th Circuit. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220242 2009-11-05T20:30:24Z 2009-11-06T15:09:27Z

Gov. Martin O’Malley would best former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich in a poll about a hypothetical rematch in 2010, but the sitting governor still may be vulnerable, according to pollsters at Clarus Research Group. How did they come to that...

Laura Smitherman Gov. Martin O’Malley would best former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich in a poll about a hypothetical rematch in 2010, but the sitting governor still may be vulnerable, according to pollsters at Clarus Research Group. How did they come to that conclusion? Several layers of data provide the answer. First of all, pollsters pitted O’Malley against “someone new” in one question put to voters. While O’Malley has Ehrlich beat by a 47-40 percent margin in the poll, he lost to a nameless opponent by a 48-39 percent margin. That's a mixed bag for O’Malley, the incumbent Democrat next November, as well as Ehrlich, a Republican who hasn’t even revealed whether or not he’ll run next year. But other questions also yielded telling results, according to Clarus. O’Malley scored less than 40 percent approval of the way he’s handling seven issues — holding down state taxes, bringing new jobs to Maryland, managing the state budget, bringing people together to solve problems, putting Maryland’s interest above partisan politics, keeping in touch with average citizens, and protecting consumers against high electric utility rates. It has to hurt that only 33 percent approved of O’Malley’s handling of the utility issue even after his recent public clashes with Constellation Energy Group during which he sought rate relief for customers of Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. O’Malley only scored majority approval on one of the issues — 54 percent for living up to high standards of ethics. Then again, 48 percent of those polled approved of the overall job O’Malley is doing while only 40 percent disapproved Clarus also provided more detail on the O’Malley-Ehrlich matchup.  Ehrlich leads O’Malley in the state’s western counties by 22 percent and in Eastern Shore/southern counties by 13 percent. They are tied in the Baltimore area. O’Malley’s statewide lead is based in part on his his strong 42-point lead in the Washington suburbs, Clarus reported.  O’Malley scored a 21-point lead among women voters and a 66-point advantage among African Americans, but Ehrlich carried men by 9 points and whites by 14 points. Ehrlich leads independents by 14 points, according to Clarus. The poll of 637 Maryland voters by Clarus, a non-partisan survey organization, was conducted by telephone interviewers between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220184 2009-11-05T17:10:22Z 2009-11-05T17:10:29Z

Republican renaissance? What Republican renaissance? In Maryland, at least, national Democrats are still riding high. According to a new statewide poll, Barbara A. Mikulski heads into the 2010 mid-term election with her status intact as Maryland's most popular politician. The...

Paul West Republican renaissance? What Republican renaissance? In Maryland, at least, national Democrats are still riding high. According to a new statewide poll, Barbara A. Mikulski heads into the 2010 mid-term election with her status intact as Maryland's most popular politician. The survey, by Clarus Research Group of Washington, showed the Democratic senator with a job approval rating of 57 percent, a good score for an incumbent at a time of widespread voter discontent and economic malaise. A majority of Maryland voters surveyed -- 53 percent -- said they would like to see the Senate's senior woman get another six-year term. Only 36 percent wanted someone new in the job. Mikulski, already running for re-election, has drawn three Republican rivals so far. None of them is well-known statewide or attracting a significant amount of campaign money (the first test for a challenger). The state's junior senator, Ben Cardin, now halfway through his first term, had a 46 percent approval rating and 26 percent disapproval score in the poll. He won't face voters again until 2012. President Barack Obama, who carried Maryland last year with 62 percent of the vote--his fifth-best showing nationally--has kept his job approval higher in the state than in the country as a whole. A total of 60 percent of Marylanders surveyed said they approved of the job Obama is doing. In the most recent Gallup daily tracking poll, the president's job approval rating was 50 percent nationally, tied for the lowest mark of his presidency. The poll of 637 Maryland voters by Clarus, a non-partisan survey organization, was conducted by telephone interviewers between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent, according to Clarus. tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/news/local/politics//338.220086 2009-11-04T21:01:30Z 2009-11-04T21:40:01Z

Mike Pappas, the first Republican brave enough to wade into the 2010 gubernatorial contest in Maryland, is dropping out and throwing his support behind Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. Nearly a year after Pappas declared he was “in it to win...

Laura Smitherman Mike Pappas, the first Republican brave enough to wade into the 2010 gubernatorial contest in Maryland, is dropping out and throwing his support behind Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. Nearly a year after Pappas declared he was “in it to win it,” he’s now saying he’s in it for Hogan. “I’m withdrawing from the race, and I believe that Larry is the candidate who can win next November,” Pappas said in a press release from Hogan’s campaign. “Larry nearly defeated Maryland’s most powerful Democrat. He has a proven record of wining over Democrats and Independents as well as Republicans.” Hogan does count among his political credentials a campaign that almost unseated Steny H. Hoyer in the 1990s, a significant feat in a heavily Democratic state. The real estate company executive went on to serve in former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich’s cabinet. Pappas said Hogan has the ability to build the grassroots organization and fund-raising operation needed to be successful as Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley is already gearing up his campaign. But there’s one major caveat — Hogan has said he’s only in it if Ehrlich’s not. While he appears to be ramping up his campaign apparatus, Hogan has maintained that he would withdraw if Ehrlich decides to run. Meanwhile, a decision from Ehrlich could be months away. As for Pappas, a construction attorney from Perry Hall. Hogan said you haven’t seen the last of him. “He’s got a great future in politics,” Hogan said in his press release. He added that he’s excited to have the “Pappas team” join his campaign.